Going into training camp, the Detroit Lions welcome back most of their top-tier players from a year ago. But, there will still be some intriguing roster battles as the summer rages on.
One particular battle that already appears half-lost, though, is on the interior defensive line. At the nose tackle position you'll find starter DJ Reader, but he isn't the reason why Pat O'Connor could already be on the outside looking in.
O'Connor was originally a 2017 draft pick by Detroit and ended up coming back last year, spending some time with the practice squad. The Lions re-signed him in March of this year, but then made some moves which signaled the beginning of the end for O'Connor.
Pat O'Connor very well could be cut at the end of Lions training camp
The Lions signed free agent Roy Lopez away from the Arizona Cardinals in March, which added some depth up front. But then, they went out and made the bigger move to draft Tyleik Williams out of Ohio State.
That now gives the Lions a solid three on the inside at nose tackle, which would leave O'Connor as an odd man out if the Lions didn't want to keep four at that particular spot.
The only other possibility is if O'Connor played defensive end or tackle in this system, but at 300 pounds he's a little heavy for end. Maybe, just maybe, he could get into the mix behind the likes of Alim McNeil and Levi Onwuzurike.
But, at this stage, O'Connor is going to have a hard time working his way onto this roster simply based on the additions of Williams and Lopez. That's a bummer, too, because just last season O'Connor saw a career-high in snaps.
In 2024, O'Connor played 31 percent of defensive snaps and 49 percent on special teams. Of course, there were injuries all over the place which helped afford him that opportunity.
Now, though, his battle is much more of the uphill fashion.
